Let’s Please Speak Up!

This is a post in a series of reflections for the Black Lives Matter movement. To read other reflections, please go to the Black Lives Matter page.

Let’s Please Speak Up
By: Jenny Kim

Hello friends, I posted this on Instagram a few days ago, but I meant to also post it here on FB. We have failed our black brothers and sisters by being silent for too long. It’s important to lend our voices as allies, because as we’ve witnessed, our silence can lead to violence and horrific consequences.

Like many of you, I have been devastated and grieving over the state of things in North America. It is a heartbreaking, enraging, and disturbing time, which highlights a centuries long history and system of oppression, racism, and brutality towards the black community, not only in America, but here in Canada as well.

This moment in time forces me to reflect about many things. As an Asian-Canadian, I have benefited from the persistent stereotype of the model minority. I played into this role for most of my life, being compliant and agreeable, in order to get by. Despite this privilege, like many POC, I have experienced racism in various ways – hurtful assumptions; derogatory labels; and micro aggressions in the workplace. On one end of the continuum, this is a daily experience in the lives of POC.

For black Americans and Canadians, these daily experiences of racism can so quickly escalate to the other end of the continuum as witnessed in the horrific murder of George Floyd. The phrase “I can’t breathe” should forever remind us of this terrible event for Mr. Floyd, his family, and all of humanity. Ironically, this is my visceral experience when I have the privilege to breathe and ponder upon the systemic issues of racism and oppression in North America. When George called out ‘mama’ in his dying moments, as a mother, it particularly moved and broke me.

All of this is to say that I know my words fall short. I understand that I cannot fully understand – but I will stand. I stand as an ally; I will do my homework; I will check my privilege and my biases; I will shed tears and experience rage alongside the black community. I will speak up to injustice in my workplace and in my community, even when others attempt to silence that voice.

To my fellow non- black POC and white friends: can we please not be afraid to talk about race? Can we please be ok with being uncomfortable and educating each other and challenging each other to do better? Let’s please talk and stand up as allies long after the dust settles on this time. Thank you. ❤️🙏

This is a post in a series of reflections for the Black Lives Matter movement. To read other reflections, please go to the Black Lives Matter page.